By Cecilia Ogezi (Correspondent, Abuja)
The Institute for Leadership and Development Communication (ILDC), a Pan-African professional, learned body, has awarded 9 outstanding individuals in the society who have distinguished themselves in various leadership and development capacities.
The Institute also inducted 19 others at it's maiden induction and award ceremony held at the Reiz Continental Hotel, Abuja.
Founding President and Chairman of the institute, Desmond Okocha, in his address, noted that Africa, since the end of slavery and colonialism, has envisaged the rapid creation of a liberated continent billed with prosperity, development, escalated industrialization and maximization of its people’s potential. He said sadly this is not the case today decades after as these visions and yearnings are far from being achieved.
Okocha, also explained that the objective of the institute to mobilize, re-invigorate, initiate discourses,
critique models and approaches leadership and development communication with the intent of birthing cutting edge sustainable development domesticable that meets the continent's peculiar challenges.
He said it's also to amplify the voices of the voiceless community and social workers so that all those who are involved are recognized, re-energised and re-mobilised for maximum development to ensure a deliberate synergy between Innovation leadership and development communication new paradigms of leadership and development communication.
According to him, this has occasioned the emergence of ILDC, which prides itself as a one-stop shop for both disciplines innovation leadership and development communication with the collaboration of of global partners.
The country director of the institute in Nigeria, Stanley Okereafor while speaking at the ceremony, stressed that the institute is focused on supporting men and women involved in making our world a better place through leadership and development (communication) work.
He said their good deeds are creating ripples that are extending far beyond the initial splash, while also noting that the core values of the institute are rooted in professionalism, discipline, integrity, transparency, team building and service.
Okereafor stated that it is the first and only institute in Nigeria that is focused on developing, building and expanding capacity of personnel in the fields of leadership and development communication.
He explained that ILDC is an inter-agency forum and platform for knowledge sharing, research reservoir, national library for development activities, database for recruitment for development agencies, clearing house for quality control and platform for research and documentations that captures development activities in far flung geographies.
The director said the Institute would also establish a hall of fame to recognise and celebrate various categories of development workers. He also hinted that the ILDC will also provide platform for those involved in development to become resource persons and advance the cause of community practice in international development.
His said it is worthy of note celebrating the distinguished Awardees, Fellows, Members and Associates who were inducted.
The key note speaker, Dr. Gabriel Nyitse, Faculty of Communication & Media Studies, Bingham University, in his lecture on Leadership and Development Communication: Synergy for Sustainable Development in Africa, reiterated that leaders should be intrepid, willing to take the risks necessary to achieve innovation.
According to him, this requires a talent for pushing boundaries along the way. He added that it must be able to organize, coordinate both human and material resources to produce tangible and verifiable results. He said a leadership that is visionary, compassionate, with servitude is one built on the right ideals.
He stressed that leadership as it is popularly known refers to being in charge of a group or an organization and directing its affairs and experienced at both the micro and macro levels.
Dr Nyitse, noted that researchers have defined leadership in terms of personality and physical traits, while others believe leadership is represented by a set of prescribed behaviors. He bemoaned the leadership style practiced around Africa, adding that nepotism impedes community access to housing and services and leads to the collapse of some municipal government and to widespread protest among affected communities.
He said: "For example, the recent wide protest in Kenya against unacceptable policies of the Ruto led government such as arbitrary increase in taxes and the soaring cost of living. Most African leaders have been unable to stern nepotism because of several values and mentalities upheld by most Africans that are not ably dealt by African leaders.
"Family values, ethnicity, religion and tribalism are all factors that instigate favoritism. This is exemplified in Nigeria by the immediate past government of President Muhammadu Buhari where sanguine relationships, ethnic affinity and religious fraternity were qualifications for appointing individual into offices. Often, none of the officers have any qualifications for the post they were appointment into other than being clan members".
Dr Nyitse pointed out other challenges of leadership that have affected development in Africa to include blurred vision, competition for pre-eminence among African leaders in their regional corporation bodies such as ECOWAS where there is still competition for leadership instead of fighting for those things that will improve the living conditions of their citizens. He noted that there is also corruption and dictatorship among African leaders which have stunted the growth of the countries they are leading.
Amongst those awarded for Excellence In Media, were people with enviable track records of achievement in the media industry. One of them, Mrs Moji Makanjuola (MFR), in her appreciation message, emphasised the need for everyone in the society to contribute their quota to the development of humanity.
She added that leadership starts within everyone. And disclosed that this event is coming barely a week to another induction of her into the Nigerian Women Hall of Fame. Makanjuola however added that she can only give God the glory for these recognitions.
Another awardee, Dr Felix Oisamaoje, regional director, Anglophone West-Africa, Christian Broadcasting Network International(CBN), who was honoured with the Excellence in Media award, however explained that he was humbled by the gesture of the institute, just as he thanks God Almighty for his journey so far.
Dr Felix Oisamaoje, said his leadership journey in the media started at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) College in Jos, Plateau State, where he was head of unit to University of Abuja where he was Head of Theatre Arts department. He further added that after Three years in the Abuja University, he resigned to follow his passion in Christian media and went on to join the CBN.
He disclosed that the opportunity he was given to lead in various capacities helped him to understand that human beings are the most complicated of God's creation but still remains God's best creation.
Oisamaoje, however bemoaned the poor leadership quality in Nigeria, pointing out that only visionary leaders who can harness potentials of their followers for the greater good can make the world a better place.
In total, nine people from different walks of life who have distinguished themselves in leadership positions were awarded. In addition 19 inductees, eight members and one associate members were in attendance in the ceremony. NNL.
